Ball-clamp.



PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

. C. LADD.

BALL CLAMP.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. e, 190s.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

VILLIAM O. LADD, OF MENDOTA, ILLINOIS.

BALL-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATIIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,533, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed August 6 1903.

To (Ll/ tf1/'wm t may concern:

Beit known that LVVILLIAM O. LADD, a citizen of they United States, residing at Mendota, in the county oi' Lasalle and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ball-Clamps, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to work-clamps; and its primary object is to provide a new and useful device of this character by means oi' which a base-ball may be held while its cover is being secured in applied position.

A .further object of the invention is to provide a simple and cheap yet durable device of this character which will be composed oi' few parts and those so arranged as to avoid liability o'f becoming inoperative.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a work-holder which may be either held within the hand, readily and quickly secured between the jaws oli' a stitching-horse, or secured in a slot arranged in a work-bench while the cover oi' a ball is being secured in applied position.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement oi' parts hereinafter iully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a clamp constructed in accordance with my invention, the same illustrating the manner in which a ball is adapted to be held while its cover is being applied. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof, illustrating the clamp secured between the jaws oiE a stitching-horse. Fig'. 3 Ais a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the clamp secured in a slot arranged in a workbench.

Rei'erring to the drawings by reference-numerals, l and 2 designate members hingedly connected at their lower ends and having their upper free ends provided with jaws 3, between which a ball is adapted to be clamped to retain it in a rigid position while its cover is bcing' applied. The members are formed :from

any suitable material, and their longitudinal edges are rcversely bent to provide iianges 4, having their lower portions apertnred for the reception of a pintle 5, which hingedly connects the members. rl`he jaws 3, which are formed by depressing the upper or .free ends of the members, are cup-shaped and of a depth suiiicient to permit a ball to be grasped between the jaws to prevent it fromturning and also to expose the greater portions ot' the meeting edges of its cover to give free access for the purpose of stitching' the cover. Tangs 6 are struck up from the members to project laterally from the outer sides thereof, the purpose oi which will vbe hereinafter fully set forth. Y

The operation of the clamp may be eX- plained in the following manner: A ball is iirst provided with its cover and then inserted between the jaws 3, which are caused to approach each other to hold the ball against movement while its cover is being stitched. The clamp may be held within the hand or between the jaws of a stitching-horse during the operation of stitching the cover. VWhen the clamp is held between the jaws oi a stitchinghorse, the tangs 6 are adapted to engage the under side of said jaws to prevent the clamp from having any upward movement, and the inclination oi the members, caused by the grasj'iing ot' a bali between the jaws, prevents the holder from having a downward movement, thereby permitting the clamp to be rigidly secured betwcen the jaws of a stitchinghorse. Vhen the jaws are constructed from wood, the tangs 6 may be caused to penetrate their faces, and thereby prevent any movement of the clamp. The application of the holder to a slot in a work-bench, as disclosed in Fig. 3 of the drawings, may be accomplished in a manner that is obvious. It may be further stated as the members of the clamp are provided with a plurality of the tangs G, arranged in horizontal alinement and adapted to engage the under surfaces oi the jaws ot' a stitching-horse or a slot, that the clamp is prevented from having an oscillating movement in its applied position.

It apparent that the clamp may be used for the purpose oi clamping any article which is spherical, or approximately so, in contour as 1readily as it may be used to hold a baseba Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with the jaws of a stitching-horse, of a clamp comprising members hingedly connected together at their lower ends and having their upper ends provided with jaws, and tangs carried by said members and arranged in horizontal alinement to engage the under surfaces of the jaws.

2. A device of the character described, comprising two members having their longitudinal edges provided with anges, V'a pintle adapted to engage the anges to pivotally connect the members, cup-shaped jaws formed on the free ends of said members, and tangs struck up from the members.

3. A device ofthe character described, comprising members, each having one of its ends Y WILLIAM C. LADD.

Witnesses:

J. F. ADAMS, J. A. LAMBERTON. 

